Amazonia

Amazonia in Leipzig... by Elfrieda - March 12

We slept in a bit today - well at least until 8:30 a.m. After the hectic pace of the previous days, we were both ready for a quieter day, before the Chorus arrives. It was snowing outside - and me with no boots!

Gerhard picked us up about 9:45 a.m. and we went off to his house for breakfast. Today Marita, his wife, was not working, so we were able to enjoy part of the day together. I was happy to be able to call two of my sisters from Gerhard's to say hello and let them know that we had arrived safe and sound.

It was great to be able to relax, look at photographs, watch part of a video on Gerhard's blue ray flat screen tv, check email, and generally veg our for a while. I know that when the choir arrives tomorrow, there will be little time for relaxing.

After coffee and Kuchen, Gerhard took us to a wonderful photographic exhibition called "Amazonia". This was not like any exhibition I have seen before. For one thing, it is mounted in an old gas works - a unique way in which the city of Leipzig has made use of a brown site, a former gas works where the gas was made from brown coal. The building looks a bit like an old Roman amphitheatre - round, tall walls with many windows around it.

The exhibition was photographed over several years and then put together on large sheets of polyester, which were sewn together, and then hung in the round amphitheatre. You literally stand in the middle with this very detailed vision of the Amazonian jungle all around you. The light changes from daylight to the darkness of a thunderstorm and then night, changing the view and the sounds of the rain forest. Suddenly you are in a planetarium, with the moon and stars overhead.

As you walk around the outside, you begin to see various details you have not noticed before - snakes, frogs, monkeys, all kinds of people, plants and animals. You could stay in this room for hours and still not see it all. The photographer, Yadegar Asisis, has done an excellent job of taking you right into the middle of the rain forest.

This is the third exhibition which has been held in this exciting and interesting venue. The previous two were of Mount Everest and of the Roman Empire. A new exhibition is scheduled for next year - a unique kind of zoo. It is definitely a place I want to see again!

On our way back to the hotel we stopped at a Russian Orthodox Church, which, according to Gerhard, has been here forever. On the outside is a plaque honouring the fallen soldiers of the war of 1813 to liberate Germany. The dead number in the hundreds of thousands.

Back at the hotel, we awaited the arrival of Charly (Karl-Heinz Hartmann) who was bringing the electronic keyboard for the choir tour. Gerhard parked his car (not always an easy job in downtown Leipzig) and Marita came down by streetcar to join us. Charly and his mother arrived pretty promptly at 6 p.m. The keyboard was set up and checked out in our room. Now I had better stay pretty alert so I don't trip over it in the middle of the night!

The six of us went to dinner in the hotel dining room. We were on the alert for some Australian accents as Jane Duncan's parents were due to arrive today to meet the choir and go on tour with us. There was a likely looking couple in the lobby - the gentleman was reading a newspaper. David sidled over to check out the newspapers and to see if he was reading an English paper. No, it was a German paper!

A couple came and sat down at the next table and ordered their meal in a very strong Australian accent. We quickly asked, "Are you Jane Duncan's parents?" They were - and following introductions we were all delighted to have a long chat with them.

Well, it was getting late. Charly and his mother were driving back to their hotel in Halle, and Gerhard and Marita left for home. Tomorrow is the first choir tour day. We look forward to having them join us here in beautiful downtown Leipzig! And we wish them a very safe journey!